ABSTRACT
A strength-softening model combined with Burger’s model was applied to investigate the fracture behavior of rubber-modified binder in this study. Based on the commercial software Particle Flow Code in 3-Dimensions (PFC3D), the interaction between rubber and binder was visually illustrated. Results from a virtual bending beam test and a newly-designed binder cracking test were integrated to arrive at the required parameters for viscoelastic and fracture constitutive models in the DEM simulation. Simulation results revealed a close agreement with experimental data, which verify the modelling methods used herein. It was found that the presence of rubber particles in asphalt leads to a crack-pinning toughening behavior that enhances the ability of the asphalt specimen to inhibit cracking at low temperatures.
